forgotten shadows of chains, soft lips burning he

olen kiss lingering like poison on her tongue. She touched her

run far enoug

beat. He hadn't cuffed her to the bed again that alone was proof of something.

that kiss mean more than it was: a power play. A reminder t

less sparked in her chest. She would not be the obedient doll he wanted. She'd sur

im from the inside out to

sign of Ethan's guards lurking in the hallway

efoot, hair a glorious mess. He was flicking through some mindless show

ghting a smile. "Is this yo

. When he saw her, his grin bloomed - the kind th

honor? Come to join my noble

side him, stealing a piece of croissan

atorial whisper. "Newsflash, butterfly you don't

ad her that easily that he knew exactly which name wo

ng the croissant into her mout

ft but sharp beneath his lashe

to get your stories straight. One day you're te

ing his hair back from his eyes

hest loosened. Lucas had that effect on her -

int lines of worry etched into the corners o

lowered. "A

id softly. "You do

brushing a stray crumb from her lip. His touch was fe

" he said. "Someone who doesn't deserve

him she really did. But she'd learned the hard wa

tucked under her arm. She needed space needed air that did

of leather and secrets. She settled on the window seat, curli

hated herself fo

t heartbreakingly beautiful. The scar on his jaw.

. Didn't notice the soft click

re you

soft this ti

bookshelf beside him. His sleeves were rolled up, suit jacket draped over

on the stain, her pul

latly. He set the jack

ook shut, hugging it to

ow

N

before she could stop him. He flipped it open page after page of flowers, the sunroom

ticked. "Y

ned. "I draw things

at his lips bitter, dang

uria

aned in, bracing one hand on either side of her. T

is mouth inches from hers. "Draw

ather and rain and something darker something that made

she r

n back to her eyes. "Because I'd rath

wing her so well. For seeing t

ont, tugging him closer until their

. "One day, you'll wish

, brushing his lips against hers a ghost

d. "Then you'll be

ne hand fisting in his hair, nails scraping his scalp. He swallowed her

made her want to tear at his clothes, claw her

re blown wide, pupils dilated li

me," he said, like a

le, even as her legs threat